OBSESSED

6

I bit my lip to suppress some of the anticipation coursing through me. I couldn't wait to see her, listen to her soft voice, feel her warm touch, smell her perfume.

After I knocked, I let myself into the room. All the air fled my lungs as the exam table came into view.

Leah sat on the table in a pencil skirt and fitted blue blouse. Her blonde hair was straightened and pinned to her face. The thin strip of eyeliner emphasized the roundness of her gorgeous hazel eyes. Her cheeks reddened as our eyes locked.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Muller."

"How are you, Leah?" I asked cheerfully.

Without looking away from her, I rolled the stool over to the table and settled on it.

"I'm fine," she said. "And you?"

"I'm wonderful. Thanks for asking." I scooted the stool closer and peered up at her.

She nibbled on her lip and broke eye contact. She was nervous.

Because of me? That thought sent a delighted shock through my system.

"How are your injuries healing up?" I asked.

"My ribs aren't tender anymore. They're more of a yellow color now. And the bump on my head is gone."

"That sounds like great progress. Mind if I take a look?"

She visibly swallowed. "Not at all."

I rose from the stool and set my laptop to the side. She kept her gaze lowered as I reached toward her.

"May I?" I asked.

Nodding, she gingerly lifted her blouse. So ladylike.

She pulled it up until I could see the underwire of her black satin bra.

My jaw clenched. Blood pulsed through my body to unwelcome areas. I pushed a breath through my nostrils and forced myself to focus on her injury area.

While I lightly probed her ribs to check for swelling, I said, "So, have you kept our little promise?"

"Hmm?"

"Have you forgotten already?" I teased. "I can't have my patients making false promises now, Miss Harris."

She stiffened, achieving clarity. "Oh, that promise." Her pink tongue swiped across her mouth as she looked up at me through wide, round eyes. "I haven't exactly been in the proper form to party, you know. It's a little hard to twerk with these bruises holding me down."

I laughed and pulled her shirt back down into place. I couldn't even let myself imagine her twerking or I'd lose all concentration.

"We can't have that," I said with a soft smirk.

"I know, right? I count it as cardio."

Shaking my head at her silliness, I chuckled. There are other forms of cardio you could do instead. I bit my tongue.

"Now, go ahead and bend your head back," I said, "so I can look at you."

My hands settled on her shoulders to guide her through the movement, should it cause any discomfort or pain.

Her pliant body shuddered. She sucked in a little gasp but silently obeyed. Tilting her head back, our eyes locked.

My fingers probed gently along her skull. I sifted through her silky gold hair to find the bump she had a week ago.

The bump was small, almost completely gone. I made sure there was no oozing or bleeding before removing my hands and walking back around the table.

Leah's eyes tracked my every move. When I dared to look over at her, she quickly looked away. I smirked to myself and settled on the stool again.